Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Pactul by Elle Kennedy

23 reviews

btyniceh's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

aleclghtwood's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Why would an author take such heavy themes like rape and domestic abuse and simply decide not to deepen the subject or raise awareness, but to use as a tool to character development, like they need to have that experience to be who they are today? And even that is made poorly. And talking about character development: the only two characters in the book that she gave a personality are the main ones, the other ones are just shallow as this book as a whole - Justin, who is the main catalyst for everything in the beginning, is totally forgotten at some point, even with all the hints about his shady personality and potential he had for the overral plot. Hannah is the worst, she spends most of the first half of the book claiming that she's soooo not like other girls (istg she actually says the words at some point) because she's not interested in many guys and thinking that other girls are whores for it. Garret is actually a nice guy if you excuse the way he thinks how men and women relationships work in the first chapters, but Hannah and the narrative treats him like some sort of savior and I think it's disturbing when we are talking about a rape victim. She's not a strong female character when she needs to degrade other women to feel better about herself and needs the help of a man to overcome a trauma. And about the domestic violence, it was written a little better, but when Garret

Spoiler

sees that Cindy is a victim, he tells that "it's not his place to intervene"??? WHAT THE FUCK??? It felt so ooc after everything his mother and him went through.

I understand why we would like this book when it was released in 2015, but right now? I thought we're over the pick me trope, disappointed to see we aren't. The only thing I hope could be good were the smut scenes, but not even that, they're just a few and not satisfying. I started this book with low expectations, but it was worse than I thought, hope I never read Elle Kennedy again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Blood, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Terminal illness

Minor: Grief

lilyyyy_b's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Alcohol, Child abuse, Sexism, Blood, Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Body horror, Grief, Medical content, and Rape

Spoiler

one character (Hannah) was raped and doesnt like drinking in public as doesnt trust she wont get raped again. the other main character (Garrett) looks after her drinks to make sure shes ok. she went to therapy afterwards, also sees someone who testified against her saying shed given consent.

fromjuliereads's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I struggled a bit with some of the more toxic masculinity but I did really like the characters and the plot developments. There were just some lines that gave me the ick a bit. But it was a quick read and I enjoyed it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Stalking

Drugging, fights

lieseljp's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Physical abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

bookaholic84's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

leonormsousa's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Stalking, and Violence

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death of parent and Cancer

kendrakeuler's review against another edition

funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book is so good. Garret is one of the best men he makes Hannah feel safe and never forced her to do anything he also fell first. Hannah and garrets relationship is gold. There isn't to much sports stuff that's it's  just a sports book. The boys also have such a good friendship that's so supportive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Alcohol, Cancer, Alcoholism, and Death

Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Cursing, Grief, Mental illness, Stalking, and Bullying

pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse